Ultragenyx Expands Leadership Team and Appoints Ernie Meyer as Chief Human Resources Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: RARE) announced the appointment of Ernie Meyer as the new Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective September 1, 2020. In this role, Meyer will oversee Global Human Resources and Facilities operations, reporting directly to CEO Emil D. Kakkis. Meyer brings extensive experience from previous roles at Portola Pharmaceuticals and Celgene, where he contributed to significant organizational growth. His leadership is expected to enhance Ultragenyx's commitment to addressing rare genetic diseases as it enters a new growth phase.

Positive

• Ernie Meyer's extensive background in building multinational biopharmaceutical organizations is expected to drive company growth.
• The appointment signals a strategic focus on strengthening human resources as Ultragenyx aims to expand its reach in the rare disease market.

Negative

• Concerns may arise regarding continuity and experience gaps as a new executive joins the leadership team.

NOVATO, Calif., Sept. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel products for serious rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases, today announced that it has appointed Ernie Meyer as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective September 1, 2020. In this newly created role, Mr. Meyer will lead all aspects of the Global Human Resources and Facilities operations. He will report to Emil D. Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D., Ultragenyx’s Chief Executive Officer, and will serve on the Executive Leadership Team.  

“Ernie has tremendous experience building multi-national biopharmaceutical organizations, and his leadership will be key to the continued growth and development of our excellent team as we enter the next chapter of our future,” said Dr. Kakkis. “We welcome him to Ultragenyx and look forward to his contributions to help us achieve our goals as we begin our second decade as a diversified, global rare disease company.”

Mr. Meyer joins Ultragenyx from Portola Pharmaceuticals, where he was Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer since 2018. Before Portola, he spent more than 13 years at Celgene, most recently as Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services. While at Celgene, he played a significant role in the company’s growth to more than 7,000 employees in 37 countries. Prior to Celgene, Mr. Meyer spent 10 years at Motorola in a variety of human resource roles of increasing scope and responsibility. Mr. Meyer holds a B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Widener University.

“Ultragenyx is making great strides in the rare disease space and places tremendous focus on people – from patients and the rare disease community it serves, to the employees who make Ultragenyx the special company that it is,” said Mr. Meyer. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the leadership team to foster and develop these strengths, and to contribute to the meaningful work the organization is doing on behalf of patients.”

About Ultragenyx

Ultragenyx is a biopharmaceutical company committed to bringing to patients novel products for the treatment of serious rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company has built a diverse portfolio of approved therapies and product candidates aimed at addressing diseases with high unmet medical need and clear biology for treatment, for which there are typically no approved therapies treating the underlying disease.

The company is led by a management team experienced in the development and commercialization of rare disease therapeutics. Ultragenyx’s strategy is predicated upon time- and cost-efficient drug development, with the goal of delivering safe and effective therapies to patients with the utmost urgency.

For more information on Ultragenyx, please visit the company’s website at www.ultragenyx.com.

Contact Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Investors & Media
Joshua Higa
(415) 475-6370

FAQ

Who is Ernie Meyer and what is his role at Ultragenyx?

Ernie Meyer is the newly appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Ultragenyx, effective September 1, 2020, responsible for leading Global Human Resources and Facilities operations.

What impact might Ernie Meyer have on Ultragenyx's future?

Meyer’s experience in building biopharmaceutical organizations is expected to contribute to the company's growth and success in the rare disease sector.

When was the announcement of Ernie Meyer’s appointment made?

The announcement regarding Ernie Meyer’s appointment was made on September 1, 2020.

What was Ernie Meyer’s prior experience before joining Ultragenyx?

Prior to joining Ultragenyx, Ernie Meyer served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Portola Pharmaceuticals and worked for over 13 years at Celgene in various HR roles.